Container opening means

ABSTRACT

A container end panel is formed with a lever member having a first end, a second end and an offset portion which serves to expose a dispensing opening in the panel when the lever is rotated. The panel is provided with first and second weakened lines which respectively enable the dispensing opening to be formed and the lever to rotate. The front end of the lever is in turn connected to a hinge formed in the end panel by means of the second weakened line.

United States Patent Zundel.

[111 3,826,401 [451 July 30, 1974 CONTAINER OPENING MEANS [75] Inventor:Arthur P. Zundel, Chicago, 111.

[73] Assignee: National Can Corporation, Chicago,

Jan. 26, 1973 [22] Filed:

[21] App]. No.: 326,970

[52] US. Cl. 220/47 [51] Int. Cl B65d 39/00 [58] Field of Search 220/47,48, 54, 27

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,671 9/1937 Hildcbrandt220/48 3,215,305 11/1965 Frankenberg ..220/48 Priniary Examiner-GeorgeT. Hall 5 7 ABSTRACT A container end pane] is formed with a lever memberhaving a first end, a second end and an offset portion which serves toexpose a dispensing opening in the panel when the lever is rotated. Thepanel is provided with first and second weakened lines whichrespectively enable the dispensing opening to be formed and the lever torotate. The front end of the lever is in turn connected to a hingeformed in the end panel by means of the second weakened line.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 CONTAINER OPENING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a container having a portion of itsend wall or panel weakened to serve as an opening for access to thecontents of the container.

Containers having easy open ends have gained widespread acceptance inrecent years. Such containers for the packaging of beer and carbonatedbeverages, provide ends having a weakened score line that defines anopening to which an opening mechanism, e.g., a tab is connected thereto.Such tabs with or without their associated tear strips are Oftendiscarded at random and are not as readily gathered up as the containersthemselves. As a consequence, the discarded members may accumulate inareas such as highways, beaches and picnic areas and accordingly presentan unsightly condition. Obviously a ready solution to this problem isfor the users of such containers to refrain from randomly discardingsuch opening devices ortabs so that any litter caused thereby isprevented, however, prevention programs have met with only limitedsuccess.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention utilizes an openingdevice in the form of a lever member which is permanently attached tothe container end panel and positionable where both ease in forming anopening in a container and unobstructed pouring or removal of thecontents from the container can be accomplished. v

More specifically, the present invention contemplates an elongated levermember having first and second end portions, and an extension proximatesaid first end and offset laterally therefrom. The first end of thelever member is in turn attached to the end panel within a portionthereof defined by a generally U- shaped weakened line the end of whichterminates so as to form a hinge member which may be displaceddownwardly of the main portion of the end panel. The forward or firstend of the lever is in turn permanently attached to such hinge towardsthe front of the U- shaped portion thereof thus enabling the forward endof the lever to be downwardly displaced along with the forward portionof the hinge to a position underlying the main end panel portion. Thecontainer end panel is further provided with an incipient openingdefined by a weakened line portion over which the terminus of said levermember extension is initially positioned.

The lever member in its simplest embodiment may be a longitudinal plate,the second end thereof forming a grasping portion which serves to enablethe user of the container to grasp the lever member and the extensionthereof of a general L-shaped configuration. In this way then the firstend of the lever member is brought to bear against that portion of theend panel defined by the first weakened line and form an openingtherethrough either by entirely or partially displacing said portionfrom the remaining end wall portions.

The connecting means affixing the forward portion of the lever member isaddditionally capable of permitting rotation of the lever member from aninitial position entirely overlying the end panel to a secondary andopened position whereby a portion thereof underlies a portion of the endpanel. In such secondary position the lever extension entirely underliesthe end panel and in those cases wherein the first weakened line forms anon-detachable displaceable portion, the extension forces suchdisplaceable portion upwardly towards under portions of the end panel.

The means by which the forward end of the lever member is connected tothe end panel may comprise a rivet construction wherein a portion of theend panel is formed into an upstanding cylindrical member for receipt byan opening in the lever forward end and upper portions'of the rivetthereafter flattened so as to securely axially clinch the thus connectedportions together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a partialperspective view of a container having an easy open end panelconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the end panel depicted in FIG. 1 of thedrawings and in an unopened configuration;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the container end panel takenalong the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and shows in particular the container in apartially opened condition;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the end panel taken along line 4-4 ofFIG. 2 of the drawings wherein a preferred form of weakened lineconfiguration is provided for the formation of the dispensing opening;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the end panel similar to FIG. 2 of the drawingbut shows the lever member in a fully opened position after having beenrotated from its initial unopened position shown in FIG. 2 of thedrawing; and

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 5and shows the preferred embodiment opening configuration depicted inFIG. 4 of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Turning now to the drawings andparticularly FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a container generallyindicated by the reference numeral 10 consisting of a cylindrical bodyportion 12 having upper and lower walls or end panels 14 (one shown)connected to the body portion by a conventional double seamconstruction. The container or at least the upper end panel thereof ispreferably made of metal, such as aluminum or steel.

The upper end panel 14 is further provided with a first weakened scoreline 18 as best shown by FIG. 4 of the drawings the extent of whichdefines a flap 20 which when displaced forms an opening 22 through theend panel 14. This weakened line 18 may be alternatively cut entirelythrough the end panel thickness and held in place by adhesive means suchas a thin plastisol area coating (not shown) or may take the form of aline scored partially through the thickness of the panel or otherwiseweakened line. Also the first weakened line may define the entireperiphery of the incipient opening 22 or may stop short thereof andpermit a portion of the end panel to remain connected with thedisplaceable portion 20 and in such a manner form a hinged connectiontherewith in the manner of the key-hole construction depicted in thedrawing. The term weakened line is used throughout to identify theseveral forms indicated above.

The underside peripheral extent of the displaceable portion 20especially when entirely severed from its remaining end panel portionsis provided with a coating or protective material (not shown) such aspolyvinyl 3 chloride plastisol composition which serves to prevent thethus cut metal peripheral surfaces from coming into contact with thematerials such as beer and beverages contained therein. Such coating orother material such as self supporting plastic, metallic, or metallizedplastic strips provided with adhesive surfaces additionally serve toposition the displaceable portion within the opening 22 and may furtherprovide the means by which an entirely severed displaceable portion 20may be hingedly connected to the end panel as by their partial removaltherefrom.

A lever member 30 forms the means by which the displaceable portion 20is removed from the remaining end panel portions to define thedispensing opening 22.

' This lever 30 has a first end 32, a second end 34 and an extension 36thereof laterally offsettherefrom and proximate the first end 32thereof. The lever may be formed as depicted in the drawings of arelatively stiff metal plate material or may be formed of thinner stockand bent into the desired shape shown. Alternatively the lever may beformed from other materials and by other procedures such as injectionmolded synthetic polymers. I

The extension 36 may be of generally L-shaped configuration to present aconnecting portion 38 and a ter minus or finger 40 adapted to overly thedisplaceable portion 20 definedby the first weakened-line 18. Also theterminus40 is preferably adapted to initially bear against thedisplaceable portion 20 of the end panel forward of a line about whichthe lever 30 is adapted to hinge or pivot downwardly through the mainplane of the end panel 14 as will hereinafter be more clearly broughtout.

A second weakened line 42 of generally U-shaped configuration is formedin the end panel 14 generally centrally thereof to define a hinge member44 pivotable about a bend line 46 connecting the sides of the secondweakened line 42 and created either by a secondary second weakened lineor by the bend forces created in the hinge member 44 through theinteraction of the lever 30. The forward end of the'lever 30 is in turnattached to the hinge 44 forward of such bend line46 by means of aconnector means 48.

The particular mannerin which the lever member 30 is attached to the endpanel 14 so that such will not be discarded after having served to openthe container and the contents thereof is by such connector means 48formed by a rivet or upstanding boss construction wherein a hollow bossis formed in the end panel. An

-.opening in the forwardend of the lever accepts such boss and thoseportions of the boss projecting beyond the lever are flattenedthereagainst to clinch the two members together so as to form apermanent connection therewith.

Operation of the device of the present invention is as follows: thelever extension 36 is positioned over the displaceable portion 20defined by the first weakened line 18. Thereafter the second or handleend 34 of the lever 30 is rotated upwardly about the bend line 46 so asto force the forward end thereof downwardly through the major plane ofthe end panel to a position therebeneath. concomitantly finger 40 ofextension 36 moves downwardly against the displaceable portion 20 toforce such downwardly as by bending a portion thereof or entirelyremoves the same from the end panel. It should be noted also that thecentral placement of the first end 32 of the lever 30 and its connectionwith the hinged member 44 enables pressure to be initially released inthose cases where the product contained in pressurized, e.g., carbonatedbeverages in the central portion of the end panel, thus preventing anundesirable possible squirting of liquid contents. Such action is shownin FIGS. 3 and 6 of the drawings wherein the handle portion of the leveris depicted as having been rotated in an arc of approximately from itsinitial position shown in FIG. 2, in FIG. 3 and approximately in FIG. 6.The lever is preferably rotated a total of 180 wherein the handle 34 mayassume a position flat against the end panel but on the opposite side ofthe bend line 46. In such movement the first end of the lever wouldadditionally assume a position under the surface of the end panel andopposite its original position as shown in FIG. 2 as by additionallyforcing the hinge 44 against lower surfaces of the end panel. Alsoseparate means for maintaining the fully opened position of thecontainer shown in FIG. 6 of the drawing may be utilized, e.g., theupstanding chuck wall of the double seam construction may be providedwith an extension or undercut portion for receipt of the terminus of thehandle 34 of the lever member 30 which may in turn be provided with anextension for such purpose.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 depicts a displaceable portion 20 whichis entirely severable from the end panel 14 in which case the weakenedline 18 is cut essentially entirely through the end panel 14 and isformed to entirely close upon itself. A plastisol or other coatingmaterial may serve to repair the integrity of the container in suchareas.

I claim:

1. An easy open end for containers and the like comprising,

an end panel,

a dispensing opening through said panel, said opening being defined by adisplaceable portion of said panel,

a hinge formed in said end panel, said hinge being defined by a weakenedline in said panel, a lever member having first and second end portionsand an extension thereof proximate said first end and laterally offsettherefrom, said extension overlying said displaceable panel portion,

said first end of said lever members connected to said hinge wherebyarcuate movement of said lever urges said extension thereof intoengagement with said displaceable portion thereby exposing saiddispensing opening.

2. The easy open end of claim 1 wherein said displaceable end panelportion is defined by a first weakened line formed in said end panel andwherein said hinge is defined by a second weakened line formed in saidend panel.

3. The easy open end of claim 2 wherein said hinge is defined by agenerally U-shaped weakened line that terminates at spaced locations onsaid end panel to define a permanent connection between the hinge andsaid end panel.

4. The easy open end of claim 2 wherein said first and second weakenedlines are of general U-shaped configuration.

5. The easy open end of claim 2 wherein said end panel is centrallyupwardly domed and said first end of said lever member is positionedcentrally of said end extension is of L-shaped configuration and extendsforward of the terminus of said lever first end.

8. The easy open end of claim 6 wherein said lever extension initiallyforces said displaceable portion downwardly and finally forces saiddisplaceable portion upwardly towards under portions of said end panel.

1. An easy open end for containers and the like comprising, an endpanel, a dispensing opening through said panel, said opening beingdefined by a displaceable portion of said panel, a hinge formed in saidend panel, said hinge being defined by a weakened line in said panel, alever member having first and second end portions and an extensionthereof proximate said first end and laterally offset therefrom, saidextension overlying said displaceable panel portion, said first end ofsaid lever members connected to said hinge whereby arcuate movement ofsaid lever urges said extension thereof into engagement with saiddisplaceable portion thereby exposing said dispensing opening.
 2. Theeasy open end of claim 1 wherein said displaceable end panel portion isdefined by a first weakened line formed in said end panel and whereinsaid hinge is defined by a second weakened line formed in said endpanel.
 3. The easy open end of claim 2 wherein said hinge is defined bya generally U-shaped weakened line that terminates at spaced locationson said end panel to define a permanent connection between the hinge andsaid end panel.
 4. The easy open end of claim 2 wherein said first andsecond weakened lines are of general U-shaped configuration.
 5. The easyopen end of claim 2 wherein said end panel is centrally upwardly domedand said first end of said lever member is positioned centrally of saidend panel and said lever extension is positioned radially outwardlythereof.
 6. The easy open end of claim 5 wherein said second end of saidlever forms a grasping portion thereof and wherein said second lever endand said lever extension are each rotatable 180* in different butcomplementary arcs.
 7. The easy open end of claim 6 wherein said leverextension is of L-shaped configuration and extends forward of theterminus of said lever first end.
 8. The easy open end of claim 6wherein said lever extension initially forces said displaceable portiondownwardly and finally forces said displaceable portion upwardly towardsunder portions of said end panel.